Dollars and Sense

A couple of weeks ago, we started giving our big man an allowance (no, not Ben - he was already getting one).  We actually started talking about the idea back when Ethan turned five, but then time got away from us and we decided kindergarten was the appropriate time to begin this little slice of independence. Shopping with my buddy Ethan has become very challenging, and I am so tempted to record myself saying (in a calm voice, as opposed to the voice that comes after saying the same thing one hundred times) "No, we don't need that.  Please put it back where you found it.".  Then I could just carry my phone around and hit play whenever he oohs and aahs and insists that we must have another type of yogurt tube or a new seasonal bread product with pumpkins on the wrapper or a giant Shrek stuffed animal.  I am fairly certain our little negotiator is headed for a career in law, because he never stops at just one "no".  There are the incessant whys, some counter-arguing about the state of our current snack supply at home, a bit of commentary on what his peers are doing/getting/eating.  And then, when all else fails, there's the fall to the ground in despair, admitting defeat yet still (loudly) whining "Whhhhhyyyyyyyyy?!?!?!?".  All this is to say, it's time for this boy to have some of his own money.  I know that a fifty cent per week deposit in his piggy bank won't be the panacea to all our grocery store battles.  But I do appreciate having another phrase to turn to when the old standby is clearly falling on deaf ears: "Did you bring your money?  If you have enough saved, you are welcome to buy that (fill in the blank piece of junk)."  So far, this hasn't all worked quite as I had intended - the kid is always forgetting his wallet, and let's be honest, you can't buy anything for (his total savings of) $1.50 these days.  But I think over time, he'll get the idea, and at the very least, he is making some important connections - that things actually cost money, that money is a limited resource, and that in order to acquire things, we must save and make choices.  So five and three-quarters seemed, for our family, like the right time to start teaching these lessons.  We chose not to tie Ethan's allowance to chores per se, but did explain that since getting an allowance was a big kid thing, we'd reserve the right to withhold the allowance if he wasn't being a big kid contributor to the family.  So I'm not sure that's really any different than tying chores to an allowance, but it felt different to us.  I'm curious to see how this big kid milestone unfolds for us - what he chooses to buy, and when, whether he squanders it on penny candy or saves up for something big - and I am also curious what other families do when it comes to filling their kids' piggy banks.  Someday in the not-so-distant future, he'll be getting some extra boosts to his little nest egg from a certain fairy who swaps teeth for bucks.  He can't wait (but Mommy can - losing teeth is one milestone I am really dreading).

Here's our big boy at his end-of-the-season soccer ceremony.  Best part of the weekend (for him) - so proud of his first trophy!